Strange things happen. Ben Wallace was supposed to have a arms length deal with Detroit and no one was contemplating he would move. He even did not hire an agent until now. The word is Arn Tellem is now his agent and they are looking for 132 Million for a 6 year deal? Is it the beginning of the end for Detroit? Who knows Isiah or Jerry Bus may get in the fray- Isiah because he loves deal making and Buss because he will finally admit that sending Shaq to Miami was not a great Idea .
So how will NY get Ben Wallace? They're way over the cap. Lakers can't afford Ben either. He will probably go to Chicago.
This is crazy. Ben Wallace will never get that kind of money and he knows it. The agent is just staking out a negotiating position. Carlos Beltran's starting price was 10yrs/$200MM and he settled for the 7yrs/$119MM pilferage of the Mets. This stance puts Dumars on the spot by flushing out just how much he's willing to pay. Ben is on the downside of his career and it would be silly for another team to overpay him for the success he's had in Detroit. He should stay a Piston but Dumars isn't dumb.
Chicago have too many good players on rookie contracts that are due to expire in the near future. If Big Ben were to move I'd say either the Warriors who have some good pieces they could package or Atlanta who could just offer him a contract straight up.
Bwahahahaha. 132 million over 6 years. He wasn't going to get that even before playing the playoffs with a lid over the rim. If I'm Dumars, I would absolutely unload Wallace for some young depth. I'm not sure who would take the bait though. Big Ben at his contract demands isn't going to fit on every team.
Yeah, Big Ben might have had a case for big bucks had they won another championship, but he can't be worth more than half of what he's asking, and even half of that would be generous. I'm thinking he's worth 60 million or so, but even that may be too much. He fits perfectly in Detroit but his offense is just so bad I don't know how well he could fit in on teams who need more offense from their center.
SnT would do it but the Knicks already have Eddie Curry & Jerome James who are both signed to big contracts and the Lakers are waiting for next year to make their big free agent splash. Taking on Ben would ruin that.
4 time Defensive player of the year deserved or not . .that is rarified air Personally. . . no more than 10 mill a year and honestly . . . .maybe only 4 yrs Rocket River
Dumars has to pass on this deal. no team should sign a 32yo to a 6 year deal at max money unless that guy is shaq. just like Cuban passing on nash's max deal, Dumars will have to do the same this summer with ben.
It takes two to trade, even if you're Isaih (and signed Curry to a 70mm guaranteed contract during heart issues...note the #2 pick in this year's draft???). Ben will be a Piston. Raps may try to bump his price to gig the P's but Big Ben ainta gonna get 132mm. 50 - 70 yes. Live with that, Ben.
This is funny stuff. The max I would give Ben W. is 8-10 million for 4 years. He won't be such a stud on defense after he loses a little of his athleticism. I bet he loses some of his fire after he gets his contract and ends up on a non-championship caliber team. Overrated - and not deserving of 2nd team All-NBA over Yao.
for how much ben is asking, SnT most probably would not be possible... IIRC, in order to do a SnT of this scale, detroit will have to take back 17M+ worth of contracts (so the contracts falls withing 25% of each other). who will they be willing to take back? Malbury? Francis? out the top of my head, I can't think of one player (or the combination of several players) that Detroit is willing to eat the 17M contracts and the SnT team is willing to part with.
If he wants a huge payday, a SnT gives Ben more possible destinations than a straight up signing as a free agent. Only the Hawks can sign him outright for $15MM/yr. I don't mean to imply a SnT with the Knicks or anyone else is likely, just saying that's how he could play for them next season.
